Reified identities and politics of ‘authenticity’

A critical commentary on Verbuyst's metaphysics and politics

Bibliographic Data

ID12669727
AuthorsJ Kurzwelly (0000-0002-0993-573X, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume25
Issue4
Pages413-420
Publication date2025-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnthropological Theory (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1463-4996 • E-ISSN: 1741-2641
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/14634996251368086
OpenAlexW4413913459
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited12

Anthropology and the social sciences have largely neglected the illusive and narrative nature of social identities, frequently relying on realist metaphysical assumptions. Such assumptions, often implicit, underpin reification and essentialist political uses of identities. This paper challenges these prevailing approaches by critically examining the foundations of Verbuyst's defence of ‘subversive authenticity’ as a strategy for indigenous empowerment. It interrogates the theoretical implications of such authenticity, offering a critique of its analytical validity and its role in contemporary identity politics, and suggests an anti-realist view of identities as an alternative point of departure for anthropology

Critical theory · Epistemology · Metaphysics · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Law · Philosophy · Political Philosophy and Ethics · Religious Education and Schools · Social Science and Policy Research

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Open DOIOpen Access